Israel has threatened to invade Gaza’s Rafah by the start of Ramadan if Hamas does not return the remaining hostages by then, despite international pressure to protect Palestinian civilians sheltering in the southern city.
With prospects for ceasefire talks looking bleak, the United States and other governments, as well as the United Nations, have issued an urgent appeal for Israel to stop its planned attack on Rafah.
The Israeli government says the city, located on the border with Egypt, is the last remaining stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
But it is also where three-quarters of the displaced Palestinian population has fled, taking refuge in vast tent camps without access to adequate food, water or medicine.
Retired military chief Benny Gantz told the American Jewish Conference, “The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know – if our hostages do not come home by Ramadan, fighting will continue everywhere, including the Rafah area.” Leader in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Gantz, a member of the three-member war cabinet, said, “Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, release the hostages and the citizens of Gaza can celebrate Ramadan.”